Franklin County: John M. Christy to Mary Jane Demus, October 10,
1864
Summary:
Christy describes recent fighting near Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. He also mentions
that his regiment's conduct earned the praise of officers.
Mary Jane Demus
october the 10 1864
My Dear
I take My pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present all excepting I have the cold pretty Bad I hope these Lines May find you the same I received your Letter the [unclear: 7th] and Now I take My pen in hand again to Let you know What fun We had We Left front of petersburg in the evening at three o'clock and We Marched all Night till some of the boys give out and lay down along the road and some throwed their things away We stopped about four o'clock in the Morning and old Johnny Reb shelled us all the time tha cut the Linbs of all rond us We Drove them Back five Miles that Night We Marched about fifteen Miles We Drove them Back to chapens bluff and We hold that place Now [unclear: tha] Made the shells and the [unclear: buets] [unclear: Whisel] around Me I thought that Would surely hit me but We Did cut them all to pieces We had about five or 6 Wagon Loads of them to bury three Days after the fight they shelled us for four or 6 days after the fight We Can see them every Day there deserting as fast as they can [unclear: tho] come over by hundreds [unclear: tha] come over Day and Night We are Within 5 Miles of Richmond Now We Look for a fight every Day they Made a Charge on the Right wing and flanked our Men and captured some of our Men and four canons But We got them back again We Laid them on piles I Wasn't in that fight I Was on the left of that Gust as We came up [unclear: tho] [unclear: thad] [unclear: Dron] a Line of battle but When [unclear: tha] [unclear: sen] us [unclear: tho] Went Back again [unclear: tho] Don't Like to fight us We got the praise the officers say that We fought the Best of any new regment that ever they seen come on the field to fight they could hardly get them to stop firing at the Johneys the Was a hundred Run over to our side in one [unclear: skude] We take three forts from them We had a heavy frost Last Night here When you Write Let Me know if you got the money I sent you With the Likeness when you Write to Jake send him one of them Likeness When I can't get my Meat cooked I eat it raw I Must close My Letter God be With you all at present
When you Write Direct to Company H 45
Regt
U.S.C.T. tenth Corps
Washington DC
John M Christy
to Mary J Demus
